New Bearing Design Concept An Innovative, U.S. Army, Design Concept for Tactical Vehicle Bearings and Universal Joints

A radically new approach to the design of bearings demonstrated feasibility in a U.S. Army SBIR¹ program. It was first applied to universal joints on the HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) in order to maximize the concept's performance benefits and optimize vehicle cost savings. The program² was one of five recipients of the U.S. Army's 1995 SBIR Phase II Quality Awards. The concept has been issued three patents³. This paper presents the theory and documents HMMWV field test results in the successful development of a new universal joint with bearings that eliminate field lubrication and provide a major reduction in maintenance.